Safety bolt and less lethal ammunition system

ABSTRACT

A safety bolt and less lethal ammunition system for use with a firearm, such as a shotgun, is provided. The system includes a safety bolt operatively coupled within the shotgun. The safety bolt has a bolt head with a recessed bolt-face and a firing pin. The firing pin does not extend beyond an end surface of the bolt head during operation of the firing pin. The system further includes a less lethal round loaded within the firearm, such as a shotgun, wherein the less lethal shotgun round includes a case-head having a protrusion extending therefrom and a primer on the protrusion. The protrusion corresponds with the recessed bolt-face of the safety bolt. The firing pin engages the primer when the protrusion of the case head is received within the recessed bolt-face. The firing pin cannot engage the primer of a lethal round because of the recessed bolt.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[S]

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application entitled “Safety Bolt and Ammunition System for Use in Less Lethal Shotguns,” Ser. No. 62/178,541, filed Apr. 14, 2015, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated entirely herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

This invention relates generally to less lethal ammunition used in shotguns and more particularly to a safety bolt and less lethal ammunition system for use with shotguns.

2. State of the Art

Less lethal ammunition includes firearm rounds that are designed not to kill, but rather to incapacitate or the like. This less lethal ammunition come in various forms, such as, but not limited to rubber bullets, soft polymer rounds, wax bullets, plastic bullets, beanbag rounds, ring airfoil projectiles and the like. These types of round are used in typical firearms and fire in a manner similar to conventional ammunition for that particular firearm. For example, less lethal shotgun ammunition, such as rubber buckshot or beanbag rounds, may be loaded within a shotgun and fired without any alterations or adjustments to the shotgun.

This current less lethal ammunition has drawbacks. For example, and without limitation, the less lethal ammunition can be fired with a conventional bolt of a firearm, and therefore the bolt would operate the same with less lethal ammunition loaded as it would for conventional ammunition loaded. This provides opportunity for accidental loading and firing of lethal ammunition when a user intends only to discharge less lethal ammunition. The repercussions could be devastating.

Accordingly, there is a need in the field of less lethal ammunition for a safety bolt and less lethal ammunition system and prevents the firing of lethal ammunition when loaded within a firearm.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a safety bolt and less lethal ammunition system. The system generally includes a safety bolt with a recessed bolt face and the system generally includes a less lethal round having a protrusion extending from a case head and the primer on an end of the protrusion.

An embodiment includes a safety bolt and less lethal ammunition system comprising: a safety bolt having a bolt head with a recessed bolt-face and a firing pin, wherein the firing pin does not extend beyond an end surface of the bolt head during operation of the firing pin; and a less lethal round comprising a case-head having a protrusion extending therefrom and a primer on the protrusion, wherein the protrusion corresponds with the recessed bolt-face of the safety bolt, and wherein the firing pin engages the primer when the protrusion of the case head is received within the recessed bolt-face.

Another embodiment includes a shotgun with a safety bolt and less lethal ammunition system, the shotgun comprising: a safety bolt operatively coupled within the shotgun, the safety bolt having a bolt head with a recessed bolt-face and a firing pin, wherein the firing pin does not extend beyond an end surface of the bolt head during operation of the firing pin; and a less lethal shotgun round loaded within the shotgun, wherein the less lethal shotgun round comprises a case-head having a protrusion extending therefrom and a primer on the protrusion, wherein the protrusion corresponds with the recessed bolt-face of the safety bolt, and wherein the firing pin engages the primer when the protrusion of the case head is received within the recessed bolt-face.

Yet, another embodiment includes a method of using a safety bolt and less lethal ammunition system, the method comprising: loading a less lethal round comprising a case-head having a protrusion extending therefrom and a primer on the protrusion in a firearm having a safety bolt operatively coupled within the firearm; extending the protrusion into a recess in the bolt face of the safety bolt; and firing the less lethal round in response to operating the firing pin.

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the particular embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the Figures, wherein like reference numbers refer to similar items throughout the Figures, and:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a less lethal round, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a less lethal round, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is perspective view of a safety bolt, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a safety bolt and less lethal ammunition system, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a section view of a safety bolt and less lethal ammunition system, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a section view of a safety bolt and less lethal ammunition system in use with a lethal round, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a method of using a safety bolt and less lethal ammunition system in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to a safety bolt and less lethal ammunition system. The system generally includes a safety bolt with a recessed bolt face and the system generally includes a less lethal round having a protrusion extending from a case head and the primer on an end of the protrusion.

Referring generally to FIG. 4, an embodiment of a safety bolt and less lethal ammunition system 10 is depicted. The system 10 includes a less lethal round 20 and a safety bolt 30.

Referring further to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 depict an embodiment of a less lethal round 20. The less lethal round 20 includes a case-head 22 having and end surface 24, a protrusion 26 extending therefrom and a primer 28 on the protrusion 26. In some embodiments, the protrusion 26 may include a raised tapered surface In other embodiments, the protrusion 26 may be a frusto-conical shape, wherein the primer 28 is on an end of the frusto-conical shaped protrusion 26.

Referring additionally to FIG. 3 depicting a safety bolt 30 in accordance with embodiments, the safety bolt 30 includes a bolt head 32 with a recessed bolt-face 34 and a firing pin 40, wherein the firing pin does not extend beyond an end surface 38 of the bolt head 34 during operation of the firing pin 40. In an embodiment, the recessed bolt-face 34 comprises a tapered surface extending from the end surface 38 of the bolt head 32 to a firing pin aperture 36 of the bolt head 32. The tapered surface of the recessed bolt face corresponds to the embodiment of the protrusion 26 that includes the raised tapered surface. In another embodiment, the recessed bolt-face 34 comprises a frusto-conical shape. The recessed bolt-face 34 that has the frusto-conical shape corresponds with the embodiment of the protrusion 26 that has the frusto-conical shape.

Referring to FIGS. 2. 4 and 5, the system 10 in operation includes loading the less lethal round 20 within a firearm that includes the safety bolt 30. When loading the less lethal round 20 within the firearm, the end surface of the bolt 38 contacts the end surface 24 of the case head 22 of the less lethal round 20, and the protrusion 26 of the case head 22 extends within the recessed bolt face 34 of the safety bolt. This brings the primer 28 within the range of motion of the firing pin 40 during operation of the firing pin 40. The firing pin 40 engages the primer 28 when the protrusion 26 of the case head 22 is received within the recessed bolt-face 34.

As seen in FIG. 6, when a lethal round 50 is loaded within a firearm, an end surface 54 of a case head 52 contacts the end surface 38 of the bolt head 32. The firing pin 40 of the safety bolt 30 does not engage a primer 58 of the lethal round 50 during operation of the firing pin 40 in response to the firing pin 40 not extending beyond the end surface 38 of the bolt head 32 during operation of the firing pin 40. In other words, the firing pin 40 does not extend far enough from within the recessed bolt face 34 to contact and ignite the primer 58. In this way, the safety bolt 30 operates to prevent firing of a lethal round that is loaded within a firearm when the intended ammunition is a less lethal round.

According to embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-6, the safety bolt 30 may be a safety bolt 30 for use in a shotgun and the less lethal round 20 may be a less lethal shotgun round. In these embodiments, a shotgun may include a safety bolt and less lethal ammunition system 10. Further, the lethal round may be a shotgun lethal round. Other types of firearms are contemplated and similar components operate in similar fashion with regard to the various firearms that may utilize a safety bolt and less lethal ammunition system 10.

Another embodiment of the present invention is depicted in FIG. 7 as a method 60 of using a safety bolt and less lethal ammunition system 10. Method 60 of using a safety bolt and less lethal ammunition system 10 will be discussed in connection with FIGS. 1-6, which shows the system 10 and its various components. As such, throughout discussion of the method 60 of using a safety bolt and less lethal ammunition system 10 _(;) reference to components of the system 10 will be made.

Method 60 includes loading a less lethal round 20 comprising a case-head 22 having a protrusion 26 extending therefrom and a primer 28 on the protrusion 26 in a firearm having a safety bolt 30 operatively coupled within the firearm (Step 61); extending the protrusion 26 into a recess in the bolt face 34 of the safety bolt 30 (Step 62); and firing the less lethal round 20 in response to operating the firing pin 40 (Step 63).

In Step 63, operating the firing pin 40 comprises extending the firing pin 40 a distance less than an end surface 38 of a bolt head 32 during operation of the firing pin 40.

Method 60 may further include loading a lethal round 50 into the firearm; and not firing the lethal round 50 in response to operating the firing pin 40. Not firing the lethal round 50 further includes not contacting a primer 58 of the lethal round 50 in response to extending the firing pin 40 the distance less than the end surface 38 of the bolt head 32 during operation of the firing pin 40.

The embodiments and examples set forth herein were presented in order to best explain the present invention and its practical application and to thereby enable those of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the foregoing description and examples have been presented for the purposes of illustration and example only. The description as set forth is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the teachings above without departing from the spirit and scope of the forthcoming claims. 

1. A safety bolt and less lethal ammunition system comprising: a safety bolt having a bolt head with a recessed bolt-face and a firing pin, wherein the firing pin does not extend beyond an end surface of the bolt head during operation of the firing pin; and a less lethal round comprising a case-head having a protrusion extending therefrom and a primer on the protrusion, wherein the protrusion corresponds with the recessed bolt-face of the safety bolt, and wherein the firing pin engages the primer when the protrusion of the case head is received within the recessed bolt-face.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the recessed bolt-face comprises a tapered surface extending from the end surface of the bolt head to a firing pin aperture of the bolt head.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the protrusion of the less lethal round comprises a raised tapered surface that corresponds to the tapered surface of the bolt-face.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the recessed bolt-face comprises a frusto-conical shape.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the protrusion comprises a frusto-conical shape that corresponds to the frusto-conical shape of the bolt-face.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the safety bolt is a shotgun safety bolt.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein less lethal round is a shotgun less lethal round.
 8. A shotgun with a safety bolt and less lethal ammunition system, the shotgun comprising: a safety bolt operatively coupled within the shotgun, the safety bolt having a bolt head with a recessed bolt-face and a firing pin, wherein the tiring pin does not extend beyond an end surface of the bolt head during operation of the firing pin; and a less lethal shotgun round loaded within the shotgun, wherein the less lethal shotgun round comprises a case-head having a protrusion extending therefrom and a primer on the protrusion, wherein the protrusion corresponds with the recessed bolt-face of the safety bolt, and wherein the tiring pin engages the primer when the protrusion of the case head is received within the recessed bolt-face.
 9. The shotgun of claim 8, wherein the recessed bolt-face comprises a tapered surface extending from the end surface of the bolt head to a firing pin aperture of the bolt head.
 10. The shotgun of claim 9, wherein the protrusion of the less lethal round comprises a raised tapered surface that corresponds to the tapered surface of the bolt-face.
 11. The shotgun of claim 8, wherein the recessed bolt-face comprises a frusto-conical shape.
 12. The shotgun of claim 11, wherein the protrusion comprises a frusto-conical shape that corresponds to the frusto-conical shape of the bolt-face.
 13. The shotgun of claim 1, wherein the safety bolt is a shotgun safety bolt
 14. The shotgun of claim 1, wherein less lethal round is a shotgun less lethal round.
 15. The shotgun of claim 1, further comprising a lethal shotgun round loaded within the shotgun, wherein the tiring pin of the safety bolt does not engage the primer during operation of the firing pin in response to the firing pin not extending beyond the end surface of the bolt head during operation of the firing pin.
 16. A method of using a safety bolt and less lethal ammunition system, the method comprising: loading a less lethal round comprising a case-head having a protrusion extending therefrom and a primer on the protrusion in a firearm having a safety bolt operatively coupled within the firearm; extending the protrusion into a recess in the bolt face of the safety bolt; and firing the less lethal round in response to operating the firing pin.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein operating the firing pin comprises extending the firing pin a distance less than an end surface of a bolt head during operation of the firing pin.
 18. The method of claim 16, further comprising loading a lethal round into the firearm.
 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising not firing the lethal round in response to operating the firing pin.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein not firing the lethal round further includes not contacting a primer of the lethal round in response to extending the firing pin the distance less than the end surface of the bolt head during operation of the firing pin 